Sink mounting



Dec. 16, 1958 c. s-rRAHs SINK MOUNTING Filed on. 12, 1955 IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent SINK MOUNTING Charles L. Strahs, Evanston, 111.,assignor to Church of Religious Science, Los Angeles, Calif, a churchcorporation of California Application October 12, 1955, Serial No.540,047 6. Claims. (Cl. 4-187).

This invention relates to improvements in mountings for installing aperipherally rimmed member, such as a fiat flange type sink, or thelike, in an opening in a drainboard, cabinet top or like supportingstructure.

It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved mountingmeans which is particularly adapted for rigidly securing a flat flangetype sink or similar peripheral flanged member in an opening in adrainboard, cabinet top or similar supporting structure, and providing atight seal between the adjacent edges of the flanged member and thesupporting structure.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide A a mountingfor a sink or other member having a peripheral flange which comprises asealing frame having a top portion which covers the space between theedge of the sink and the supporting structure by overlapping engagementwith the adjoining top surfaces thereof and the web portioniwhichdepends between the edge of the sink and the wall of the supportingstructure which defines the opening therein, together with a pluralityof cooperating clamp-like fastener elements or lugs having interlocking,engagement with the web portion of the sealing frame adjacent thebottom edge thereof, which fastener elements have laterally projectingend portions with one of the end portions provided with an adjustableclamping means for clamping engagement with the sink flange and theother having a pointed edge for penetrating engagement with the adjacentwall of the supporting structure.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a mounting for aflanged sink or similar member which compr e Hea ng r me hav ng t pflange forming portions adapted to extend over the space between theedge o the. sink an t djoi u a o t supp r ing strueture and a webportion adapted to depend between the sink and the wall of thesupporting structure which defines the opening therein, and a pluralityof cooperatn lamp n el en h v n p a n a e e t w t the web portion of thesealing frame adjacent the lower d e he eo wh c c mp eme t hav l te yprojecting portions with an adjustable clamping means in one i s id a aPo ons f r l mp n en a em n with the frame and with the other of saidlateral portions having apointed edge formation extending towards theadjacent wall of the supporting structure for penetrating engag mentwith t m p i s meht of he damning'means to pivot the clamp about the Webportion of the frame whereby the sink may be readily mounted in v a.supporting structure in which the wall. around the opening is relativelydeep so that the lower surface of the supportingstructure around theopening is at a level too far belowthe sink rim to permit of itsengagement by the clamping elements.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a sink anddrainboard mounting in which a T-shaped board'to rigidly secure thesealing member in such relaw 2,864,099 Patented Dec. 16, 1958 "ice tionand to provide a water tight seal between the sink and the drainboard,the clamping members each being detachably and pivotally connectedintermediate the ends thereof to the sealing member and having a surfacepenetrating formation on the one end thereof which isswing able intoengagement with the wall of the drainboard defining the opening thereinby operation of a clamping element on the other end thereof which isengageable in clamping relation with the underside of the sink rim.

It is another object of the invention to provide a mounting means of thetype described wherein clamping elements or lugs are provided with aclamping screw which has a pressure spreading formation on the endthereof which is adapted to be engaged beneath the flange of the memberwhich is being mounted in the opening in the supporting structure.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom a consideration of the forms of the invention which are shown byWay of illustration in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a top plan of a sink installed in a drainboard which embodiestherein the principal features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section to an enlarged scale taken on the lines 22 of Fig.1, and showing the mounting as initially assembled with the sink and thedrainboard prior to clamping the sink in position in the drainboardaperture;

Fig. 3 is a section as in Fig. 2 with the sink clamped in its finalposition and the pointed ends of the clamping element in penetratingengagement with the wall of the drainboard;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view to an, enlarged scale of one of theclamping elements;

Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 3 showing the mounting meansemployed with a member having a peripheral flange of relatively thinmaterial; and

Fig, 6 is a section similar to Fig. 5 showing a modified form ofpressure distributing means employed with the clamping element.

In the preferred form of the invention, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4of the drawings, mounting members or fixtures are provided for securinga sink 10 in position in an aperture or opening 11 which is provided ina drainboard 12. The illustrated sink 10 is a standard type having anoutwardly directed top flange or rim 13 while the drainboard may be aconventional plyboard construction having a top of linoleum or othersimilar material 14. In the drainboard which is shown the opening 11 isdefined by a vertical wall 15 which is of substantail depth due to morethan the usual thickness of material in the drainboard or due to thepresence of cleats or other reinforcing elements which may be positionedaround the periphery of the opening, the mounting means of the inventionbeing particularly adapted for use in the installation ,of a sink orlike structure in an opening of this character, having a surroundingwall of greater depth than ordinarily encountered, but not beinglimited, however, to such installations.

The sink mounting means comprises an integral sealing ring or frame 16and a plurality of cooperating fastener elements or clamping lugs 17.The sealing ring or frame 16 which may be formed from bent plate metalas shown or which may be a solid section, is substantially T-shaped incross section as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 to provide a top portion 18having laterally extending flange formations 19 and 20 and a dependingstem portion 21. The top flange formations 19 and 20 are adapted toextend over the top surface of the drainboard 12 and the adjoiningsurface of the rim 13 of the sink 10 when the sealing ring 16 ispositioned with the stem 21 depending between the opposed edges of thedrainboard 12 and the along its lower edge with a continuous hookformation 22 which provides an upwardly and inwardly facing shoulder 23for interlocking engagement with a cooperating portion of the clampingor fastening members or elements 17.

The clamping lugsor fastening elements 17 (Figs. 2

to 4) are of inverted T-shaped cross section and each comprises aplate-like base 24 as shown in Fig. 4 having a relatively shortupstanding stem 25 provided on its upper edge with a hooked endformation 26. The base member 24 comprises end portions 27 and 28extending laterally with respect to the upstanding stem member 25. Thehooked end 26 of stem 25 is adapted to be engaged with the hookformation 22 on the downwardly extending stem portion or leg 21 of thesealing ring 16 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The base member 24 offastener element 17 is adapted to be positioned so that the laterallyextending end 27 projects beneath the sink flange 13 and is providedwith a threaded aperture 29 and a clamping means which is in the form ofa flat head machine screw 30 adapted to be positioned with its endengaged against the under surface of the flange 13 of the sink 10. Theother laterally extending end 28 of the base member 24 is formed withits bottom surface tapered at 31 to provide a relatively thin terminalor end edge which is cut away in the center at 32 and provides tworelatively sharp spaced projecting point formations 33 and 33'. Thepointed end 28 of the base member 24 is adapted to be positionedinitially in opposed relation to the vertical wall of the drainboard 12as shown in Fig. 2

and so that when the clamping screw 30 is taken up sufiiciently to pivotthe fastener element 17 about the hook formation 22 on the depending web21 of the sealing frame 16, the pointed portions 33, 33' of the fastenerelement 17 will penetrate the wall 15 of the drainboard 12 and firmlyanchor the fastener relative to the drainboard 12 and the sink 10. Thefastener element 17 may, of course, be stamped from a metal plate, orcut from an extruded metal section as shown, or formed in any othermanner from any other suitable material.

In installing a flanged sink or similar member in an opening in adrainboard with the mounting illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, the sink 10 ispositioned in the opening in the drainboard and temporarily supported inany suitable manner, such as by adjustable corner supports indicated at37 in Fig. 1, while the sealing frame 16 is positioned around the same.A plurality of fastening elements 17 are then positioned in spacedrelation on the frame 16 with their hooks 26 in engagement with the hookformation 22 thereof, as illustrated in Fig. 2, and with the end 27 ofthe base portion extending beneath the rim 13 of the sink 10. Theclamping screws 30 are than taken up until they pivot the fasteningelements 17 sufficiently to engage the pointed ends 33, 33 thereofsolidly in the surface 15 of the drainboard 12 and clamp the ring 16 intight engagement with the top surfaces of the drainboard 12 and the rim13, thereby clampingthe sealing ring 16 and the sink 10 securely to thedrainboard 12 as shown in Fig. 3.

The sealing ring 16 and the clamping or fastening elements 17, asillustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, are provided with the interengageable hookmembers 22 and 26 to obtain the separable pivotal connection between thesame, but it will be understood that this construction is merelyillustrative and that other pivotal constructions may be used to providefor the pivotal movement between these members. Also, the wall engagingend 28 of fastener element 17 is shown with two laterally spaced surfacepenetrating points 33, 33' but a smaller or greater number of pointformations may be provided thereon with the point or points beingrelatively sharp so that they will readily dig into or penetrate thewall surface.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, the mounting means is illustrated asemployed in securing in an opening 11 in a drainboard or other support12, a member having a top peripheral flange of relatively thin material,such as a range unit 40, which has a relatively thin metal top rim orflange 41. In this assembly the sealing frame and clamping elements areidentical with the corresponding members shown in Figs. 1 to 4. Therange unit 40 is temporarily supported in the opening 11 and the frame16 and fastener elements 17 are initially positioned in spaced relationaround the same with the depending stem 21 thereof in the space betweenthe wall 15 of the opening 11 and the oppositely disposed vertical wall42 of the range unit 40, and with the top flanges 19, 20 of the frame 16engaging the top surfaces of the flange 41 and the support 12 in thesame manner as in Fig. 2.

The fastener elements 17 are provided with a modified clamping screw 43which is arranged in the threaded aperture 29 of the fastener element 17with its head 44 in engagement with the under surface of the thin metalflange or rim 41 of the range unit 40. The threaded end of the screw 43is provided with a kerf or slot 45 for accommodating the blade of ascrew driver or other turning tool. As the screw 43 is taken up to pivotthe fastener 17 about the stem 21 of the frame 16 and cause the pointedend 28 thereof to dig into solid penetrating engagement in thesupporting wall 15 the head 44 spreads or distributes the pressure onthe flange 41 over a substantial area and prevents damage to the flange41, while insuring a tight clamping action.

In the assembly illustrated in Fig. 6 the clamping screw 50 which isemployed with the fastener element 17 is provided with a modifiedpressure distributing means. In this form of the assembly the sealingframe 16 and the fastener elements 17 are identical with those shown inFig. 7 and the positioning thereof with the range unit 40 and the'apertured support 12 is the same. The screw 50 is provided with aconventional slotted head 51 at one end and at the other end which abutsthe undersurface of the flange 41 with a pressure distributing member52. The member 52 is in the form of a strip of metal which is bent intoa U-shape with an aperture 53 provided in the one leg thereof forreceiving the threaded stem of the screw 50 so that the end of thelatter engages the lower surface of the opposite leg which is positionedin engagement with the under surface of the flange 41. The pressurespreading member 52 is formed of hardened material so that it spreadsthe pressure applied by the end of the screw 50 over a relatively widearea of the flange 41. This arrangement insures a tight clamping actionand prevents the flange 41 from being dented or showing the outline ofthe pressure area of the screw end when the installation is completed.

While particular materials and specific details of construction havebeen referred to in describing the forms of the invention which areillustrated in the drawings, it will be understood that other materialsand other details of construction may be resorted to within the spiritof the invention.

1 claim:

1. In a mounting for positioning a generally rectangular peripherallyflanged member in an apertured supporting structure which comprises amounting frame of generally T-shaped cross section which is adapted tobe positioned with the top portion extending laterally over the topsurface of the flange of the member and the marginal portions of thesupporting structure surrounding the aperture therein and with the stemportion depending between said flange and the vertical edge of saidsupporting structure and the stern portion having a hook formation onthe bottomedge thereof; the improvementwhich comprises a fasteningelement for securing said frame to the flange of the member and to saidsupporting structure, said fastening element having an inverted-T-shaped cross section, an upstanding hook formation on the upper endof the stern thereofwhich in 'the operative position of the fasteningelement is engaged with the hook formation on the bottom edge of themounting frame, a vertically extending clamping screw in threadedengagement with v one end of the cross bar portion forming the base ofsaid fastening element which clamping screw is engaged with the bottomof the flange on said member to pivot said fastening element about saidhook formation, and a laterally facing sharpened edge on the other endof the base of said fastening element which is engaged with and forcedlaterally into the vertical edge of said supporting structure when saidfastening element is pivoted away from said flanged member by taking upon said clamping screw.

2. Means for mounting a flanged member in an opening in a supportingmember comprising a frame of generally Tshaped cross section which isadapted to be positioned in encircling relation around the flangedmember with its vertical leg between the edge of the supporting memberand the edge of the flanged member and with its top projecting laterallyand overlying the adjacent marginal top edges of the flanged member andthe supporting member, said vertical leg having lug attaching formationsand spaced lugs having separable connection with said lug attachingformations, said lugs each having laterally directed portions extendingon opposite sides of said separable connection, one of said laterallydirected portions being positioned beneath said flanged member andhaving adjustable means for clamping engagement with said flanged memberand the other of said laterally directed portions terminating in alaterally directed relatively sharp pointed end formation and beingpositioned in engaging relation with the vertical edge of saidsupporting member whereby operation of said clamping means will pivotsaid lug to move the pointed end formation into lateral penetratingengagement with the vertical edge of said supporting member sufficientto anchor said lug in clamping engagement therewith.

3. Means for mounting in an opening in a drainboard a sink member havingan outwardly extending flat flange thereon, said means comprising aframe of generally T- shaped cross section which is positioned inencircling relation around the flange of said sink member with itsvertical leg between the edge of the drainboard and the edge of the sinkflange and with its top projecting laterally and overlying the adjacentmarginal top edges of the drainboard and the sink member, said verticalleg having lug attaching formations and spaced lugs having separableconnection with said attaching formations, said lugs each havinglaterally directed portions extending on opposite sides of saidseparable connection, one of said laterally directed portions beingpositioned beneath the flange of said sink member and having adjustablemeans for clamping engagement therewith and the other of said laterallydirected portions extending toward the wall of the drainboard whichdefines the opening therein and having a relatively sharp pointedformation on the end edge which extends in the same direction andengages in penetrating relation in said drainboard wall, said clampingmeans being operative to pivot said lug so as to force the pointedformation thereon into said drainboard wall and penetrate the samesufficiently to anchor said lug in clamping engagement therewith.

4. A mounting for positioning a generally rectangular peripherallyflanged member in an apertured supporting structure comprising amounting frame having a top portion adapted to extend laterally over thetop surface of the flange of the member and the adjacent marginal topedge of the supporting structure and a stem portion adapted to dependbetween said flange and the vertical 6 edge of said supportingstructure, said stem portion having a shoulder formation adjacent thebottom edge thereof and inverted T-shaped fastening elements forsecuring said frame to said flange and said supporting structure, saidfastening elements each having a hook formation on the upstanding stemthereof for engagement with said shoulder formation and meanscooperating with opposite ends of the base thereof for rigidly clampingthe same relative to said flange andsaid supporting structure, whichclamping means comprises relatively sharp point formations projecting atone end of the base of said fastening element which is positioned'toengage said point formations with the vertical edge of saidsupporting structure and an adjustable clamping member on the other endof the base of the fastening element for engaging beneath the flange onthe flanged member, said clamping member being operable to pivot saidfastening element about said shoulder formation for moving the pointformations thereon into substantial penetrating relation with thevertical edge of said supporting structure.

5. A mounting for positioning a generally rectangular peripherallyflanged member in an apertured supporting structure comprising amounting frame having a top portion adapted to extend laterally over thetop surface of the flange of the member and the marginal portions of thesupporting structure surrounding the aperture therein and a stem portionadapted to depend between said flange and the vertical edge of saidsupporting structure, said stem portion having a shoulder formationadjacent the bottom edge thereof and fastening elements for securingsaid frame to said flange and said supporting structure, said fasteningelements each having an upstanding hook formation intermediate the endsthereof for pivotal engement with said shoulder formation and meanscooperating with opposite ends thereof for rigidly clamping the samerelative to said flange and the vertical edge of said supportingstructure, said clamping means comprislng a screw in threaded engagementwith the one end of said fastening element and engaging beneath theflange on the flanged member, said screw being operable to move said oneend of the fastening element toward and from said flange whereby topivot said fastening element about said shoulder formation, and saidfastening element having its other end terminating in a relatively sharpoutwardly extending point which is positioned in engaging relation withthe vertical edge of said supporting structure so that operation of saidscrew will move said point into substantial penetrating engagementtherewith in a direction laterally of the stem portion of said frame.

6. A mounting for positioning a generally rectangular peripherallyflanged member in an apertured supporting structure comprising amounting frame having a top portion extending laterally over the topsurface of the flange of the member and the adjacent edge of thesupporting structure and a stem portion depending between said flangeand the edge of said supporting structure when said mounting frame is inoperative position, said stern portion having a shoulder forming portionand fastening elements for securing said frame to said flange and saidsupporting structure, said fastening elements each having an upstandinghook forming portion which in operative position is in engagement withsaid shoulder forming portion and means cooperating with opposite endsthereof for rigidly clamping the same relative to said flange and thevertical edge of said supporting structure which defines the openingtherein, said means comprising a plurality of relatively sharp pointformations spaced along one end of said fastening element which arearranged in penetrating relation in the vertical edge of said supportingstructure which defines the aperture therein when said fastening elementis in operative position and a clamping member mounted on said fasteningelement and spaced inwardly of said hook forming portion, said clampingmember engaging between the flange on the flanged member andtheother endof said fastening element and being operable to pivot said fasteningelement about said shoulder forming portion, said clamping memstructure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,672,621 Drain Mar. 23, 1954 8 Bauman et a1. Oct. 12, 1954 Drain Mar.22, 1955 Switzer Dec. 20, 1955 Borman Feb. 5, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS GreatBritain May 20, 1953

